Convertible sanitary napkin



W. G. ROEHR CONVERTIBLE SANITARY NAPKIN May 1s, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept, 24, 1962 May 18, 1965 w. G. ROEHR 3,183,909

CONVERTIBLE SANITARY NAPKIN Filed Sept. 24, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 amm.

i United States Patent Ofi ice aisance Patented May 18, 1965 Filed Sept.24, 1962, Ser. No. 225,783 Claims. (Cl. 12S-290) This invention relatesto improvements in sanitary napkins.

A primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a sanitarynapkin of an improved structure permitting use thereof either as aconventional externally Worn type or alternately as a semi-internal orvestibule type.

Another object is to provide an improved sanitary napkin which includesin addition to a main fluid absorbent element a secondary absorbentelement which may easily be converted by a user from a planarconfiguration adapted for external use into `a rib-like configurationadapted for semi-internal use.

Another object is to provide an improved sanitary napkin of thevestibule type which may be shipped at and converted by the user.

Another object is to` provide an improved sanitary napkin of thevestibule type having improved absorbency of the rib-like element. K

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to persons skilled inthe art upon` examination of the specilication and drawings.

In `the drawings, in which like the same reference numerals,

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a sanitarynapkin ncorporating theinventionshowing an auxiliary pad in flat configuration.

FIG. 2 fragmentarily illustrates in perspective the sanitary napkin ofFIG. 1 with the auxiliary pad converted for internal use. 1

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the sanitary napkin of FIG. 1 taken along3-3 thereof.

parts are identified by FIG. 4 is a sectional View `of a sanitary napkinsimilar to that shown'in FIG. 1 but incorporating an alternateembodiment of the invention. p

FIG. 5 illustrates a Vsanitary napkin incorporating still anotherembodiment of the invention.

While a large percentage of the current users of sani` amnapkins of aconfiguration adapted for partial insertion Within the vestibule. Thesemi-internal form of napkin is well-known as exemplified by U.S. PatentRe. 24,137,

sorbent pad 14, also of planar configuration, is disposed closelyadjacent pad 12, both pads being enclosed in a fluid pervious wrappingmaterial 16 which extends beyond opposite ends of pad 12 in a knownmanner to form tab ends for securing the napkin in position during use.

As best shown in FIG. 3, wrapper 16 eneloses the outermost face ofauxiliarypad 14 and is drawn inwardly along opposite side margins ofboth pads to form a pair ofV pleats 18, 20 enclosing the side edges ofeach pad and overlapped Ialong the central area as shown at 22.

A line of sewing 26 extends through both pads 12, 14 and through all ofthe centrally disposed layers of the wrapper material 16 securelybonding both pads together, and also bonding the wrapper materialthereto along the medial area of the pads. Pads 12, 14, shown slightlyspaced apart in FIG. 3 to best illustrate the construction, are actuallycontiguously engaged through central portions thereof. Wrapper pleats18, 26 while disposed intermediate the contiguous pads and overlappedthrough a medial area cause no appreciable inter-pad spacing, since thewrapper is of `a very light weight material. Wrapper 16 thereafterextends outwardly of Vpleats 18, 20 and downwardly as shown to enclosethe remainder of pad 12. Portions of wrapper 16 are overlapped centrallyof the bottom surface of pad 12 as shown at 24, and those overlappedportions are interconnected by the above mentioned stitching 26 whichthus maintains the wrapper and the enclosed pads 12, 14 in unitaryassembly.

In the alternate construction of FIG. 4 both the major .absorbent pad12a and the auxiliary pad 14a are individually `wrapped in a knownmanner with the wrapping materialbeing longitudinally overlapped alongcentral portions'of the bottom pad surfaces. The enclosed pads aresymmetrically disposed in respect to their center lines as in thestructure of FIGS, 1 and 3, and are also maintained in unitary assemblyby a similar line of sewing 26a or the like extending along a-commonmedial plane.

A further embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 5, resemblessomewhat the construction of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 3 except thatthe common wrapper material 16b is only partially inpleated intermediatethe primary absorbent pad 12b and the yauxiliary pad 1411 with acentrally disposed space extending longitudinally between the margins ofinpleated portions. While the inpleated pad material may be lightlybonded either -to the upper surface of pad 12b or to the lower surfaceof pad 14b or to both said surfaces, such bonding is not essential y inall instances and may be omitted if both the pad and issued on April 3,1956,'to W. G. Jacks. The semi-intery nal or vestibule type napkin isoften preferred by users who experience heavy ow or by users who mayprefer the semi-internal type only during a period of heavy flow and whoprefer thev externally worn type during the remainder ofthe menstrualperiod. Since the same users v may thus alternate between the externaland the semiinternal types of sanitary napkins, the advantages attendantan improved napkin readily converted from an exter-y nal to asemi-internal type become obvious.

The present invention fills the above need by providing 'a sanitarynapkin of Very simple construction which though primarily designed andinitially fabricated and sold as the externally worn type, may quicklyand easily be converted by the ultimate user into a semi-internally worntype.

As shown in FIG. 1, a sanitary napkinV 10 includes a primary fluidabsorbent element 12 such as `an elongate pad of flu or a combination ofuif and creped wadding of generally planar configuration. A secondaryfluid abthe wrapper materials are such that the wrapper clings to thepad surfaces. For example, with pads 12b and 14b formed of a cottonfluff and the wrapper material formed of light weight scrim upon whichis deposited an applique of cotton fibers, adherence between the wrappermaterial and the pad surfaces is suicient to maintain the pleatedwrapper portions between the pads both prior to use and duringconversion of the napkin from external to semi-internal use. Y

FIG. 2 illustrates sanitary napkin 10 with pad 14 converted forsemi-internal use. Conversion is effected by manually folding upwardlythe symmetrically divided half portions of pad 14 about the line ofsewing 216 which serves as a folding axis.` The half portions ofauxiliary pad 14, when folded upwardly in substantially right angularityto the upper surface of the major absorbent pad 12 del-lne an elongaterib-like element adapted for insertion into the vestibule. Thesymmetrically tapered ends of pad 14 provide a relieved contour at theforward end of the napkin for improved conformance with the anatomy.

While the FIG. 4 structure is easily converted in a like manner fromflat to vestibule type, the structure of FIG. 5,

Y lines by sewing.

since not provided with a fixed medial line of stitching, is manuallyfoldable in a similar manner to effect a like result. Auxiliarypad 1417,since not directly attached to the major pad 12b, may be lifted slightlyabove pad 12b and is then easily folded along its center line. Duringuse the rnajor and auxiliary pads are maintained in pressure engagementby pressure Iappliedrto the major pad by a users belt or otherattachment device which engages the tab ends. WhileFIGS. 1-4 illustratea preferred embodiment which perhaps is somewhat more rapidly convertedfor vestibule use than is the FIG. 5 structure, a relative lateralmovement is possible between the major and the auxiliary pads of theFIG. 5 structure, even when worn as a semi-internal napkin, and thatfeature is considered advantageous by some users.

As is well-known, iluid migration within an absorbent element comprisinga plurality of sheets of creped wadding progresses more rapidly inplanes parallel to the sheets than in planes normal to or obliquelythrough the sheets.

Accordingly, when pad 14 is folded upwardly for vestibule use, the padportions are positioned with the edges of the individual sheets ofcreped wadding directed toward the Huid source, thereby promoting rapidiluid absorption towardpad 12. Upon becoming uid saturated, pad 14serves as an effective wick through which the menstrual fluids aretransferred directly to the major absorbent pad 12. Y v

In the claims:

1. A convertible sanitary napkin comprising a first elongate `absorbentpad, a light weight Wrapper of fluid pervious material enclosing saidfirst pad, a second elongate absorbent pad of lesser thickness than saidfirst pad, a light weight wrapper of fluid pervious material enclosingsaid Vsecond pad, said pads being maintained Vwith their longitudinalcenter lines in registered engagement by interbonding extending alongthe respective center line t pad areas, whereby said second pad may befolded along its longitudinal center line to provide an outwardlyextending rib-like vestibule element.

2. The sanitary napkin of claim 1i wherein said iirst and second padsare interbonded along their registered center 3. The sanitary napkin ofclaim 1 wherein said first and second pads are adhesively interbondedalong their second pads, said wrapper being longitudinally inpleatedalong the entire length of the sides of both said pads to extendinwardly between both pads a suficient distance to permit said secondpad to be folded upwardly along its longitudinal center line whendesired to convert said sanitary napkin from conventional to vestibuleconfiguration, thereby to provide an elongate rib-like vestibule elementextending along the adjacent surfaceof said iirst pad.

5. A convertible sanitary napkin comprising a first elongate absorbentpad of generally planar coniiguration, a second elongate absorbent padof generally planar conguration positioned in symmetrically juxtaposedrelation thereover, said first and second pads being interbonded alongtheir registered center line areas, and a lightweight wrapper offluid-pervious material, said Wrapper completely enclosing andmaintaining in unitary assembly said rst and second pads with portionsthereof inpleated marginally of opposite sides of said pads andextending therebetween to enclose the side edges of each pad and toprovide reserve wrapper material between said pads adapted to unfold asrequired when said sanitary napkin is converted from conventional tovestibule configuration by outward folding of said second pad along itslongitudinal center line, thereby to provide an elongate rib-likevestibule element extending alongthe adjacent surface of said first pad.

6. The sanitary napkin of claim 5 wherein said iirst and secondabsorbent pads are sewed along the registered center line areas.

7. The sanitary napkin of claim 5 wherein said iirst and second.absorbent pads are adhesively bonded along the registered center lineareas. Y

8. The sanitary napkin of claim 5 wherein said second pad is of lesserwidth than said iirst pad.

9. The sanitary napkin of claim 5 wherein said second pad is of lesserlength than said first pad.

10. The sanitary napkin of claim 5 wherein said second pad is of lesserthickness than said iirst pad.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD A.GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

YJORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner.Y

1. A CONVERTIBLE SANITARY NAPKIN COMPRISING A FIRST ELONGATED ABSORBENTPAD, A LIGHT WEIGHT WRAPPER OF FLUID PERVIOUS MATERIAL ENCLOSING SAIDFIRST PAD, A SECOND ELONGATE ABSORBENT PAD OF LESSER THICKNESS THAN SAIDFIRST PAD, A LIGHT WEIGHT WRAPPER OF FLUID PERVIOUS MATERIAL ENCLOSINGSAID SECOND PAD, SAID PADS BEING MAINTAINED WITH THEIR LONGITUDINALCENTER LINES IN REGISTERED ENGAGEMENT BY INTERBONDING EXTENDING ALONGTHE RESPECTIVE CENTER LINE PAD AREA, WHEREBY SAID SECOND PAD MAY BEFOLDED ALONG ITS LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE TO PROVIDE AN OUTWARDLYEXTENDING RIB-LIKE VESTIBULE ELEMENT.